CLINICAL AND VIROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH THE KAPOSI SARCOMA VIRUS

Abstract. The paper presents literature data and results of own studies on the Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) and its association with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), the primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and multicentric Kastleman disease (MCD). The obtained data show that all 3 main clinical forms of KS, diagnosed in Russia, are significantly associated with KSHV, though not always in 100% of cases. Distinct groups of persons with high prevalence of virus infection have been detected among patients with other forms of cancer and non-cancer diseases that may represent a risk factor for development of KS. It was found that the prostate, especially in patients with carcinoma of the prostate and KS could be an important localization of virus and intimate contact with these patients should be limited. For the first time in Russia HIV-negative case of PEL associated with KSHV had been diagnosed and studied in details. It was also demonstrated that isolates of KSHV, circulating in the country, belong to the two major genetic subgroups of the virus (A and C), a widely represented in the European countries and in the United States, which indicates a common origin of the virus in these countries. The current methodologies of KS’ treatment are also presented